Signal apparatus for automobiles.



y FJL. BIXBY. SIC-NALAPPARATUS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

- AFPLICATION-HLED MAR. 13 1916.

Pafented Sept. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I FREDERICK L. lIXBY, GF STATE OLLEGE, NEW MEXICO.

SIGNAL APARTUS FR AUTGMBLES.

mamma; speciicaum of Lee-ters raient.

Patented {f-Sept. ig,

Application le March 13, 1916. Seria rio. 33,9517.

` and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which `it appertains t make and use the same.

This invention relates to gsignal devices designed for use onautomobiles and other moving vehicles, andthe object thereorn is toenable the driver to give notice tr the car behind or persons in frontwhenever he intends to stop or turn, without necessitating vremoval ofthe drivers hands from the brakes or steering gear when the operation ofstopping or turning is to bel eiected.

Further objects of the invention are to provide novel and improvedapparatus of the class described which is adapted for'both day and nightservice, is simple in construction, comparatively inexpensive, easilyapplied to existing vehicles, economical to install and maintain, easyto operate, conveiiient to use, attractive in appearance and effectivein action.

Other objects and advantages of theinventioii will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from a consideration of thefollowing description ofthe perfected form of the apparatus embodying it, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which similar reference charactersdesignate like parts thrmighout the several views and in which Figure 1is a top plan perspective View of a portion of an automobile showing theapvplicationof this :invention thereto; Fig. 2 is a front elevation,partly in section, of one of the signal devices showing the semaphorearmthereof in its raised position; Fig. 3 is ai front elevation of theinterior side ofthe front section of the casing;'Fig. 4c is a simiy larview of the rear section ot' the casing;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the plane of the line 5-5of Fig. Fig. 6 is a. side elevation of one of the casings; Fig. 7 is atop planview of the same showing the semaphore arm `in its loweredposition; Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional. view taken on me plane ofthe line 8*.8 of Fignf; Fig. 9 is a top plan view, Dartlv in section. ofone of 1 the sections, showing 'the semaphore arm in raised position;and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic representation of the wiring of theautomobile.

Referring more particularly to the'draw-l ings, the reference numeral 1represents Ia substantially triangular shaped liousingor casing, whichis made preferably of pressed steel or cast aluminum, and whichl iscom-,- posed of a rear section 2 and a front section 3. The sides of thesections 2 and 3 nee-r their upper ends are provided with alined lightdisplaying windows 4, each comprising an opening 5 having securedtherein in any suitable manner a lens 6,V the latterbeing `preferablyred-in color. lThese sections and. 3 are clamped together .by suitablebolts 7. Adjacent the opening 5 in the rear section 9. of the casing arethreaded aperturesS which receive the threaded ends of pins 9, the innerportions of the latter` being reduced in diameter ders 10, and revolublymounted on tlieinnerl portions ot' the pins 9 and resting against theshoulders 10 are suitable rollers 1.1'. j

Arranged withinvthe `casing `1 is ,a -sub,- scaiitially triangularshaped semaphore arm l2, one end of which is provided with an? annularlaterally latter being revolubly mounted aroundwtherollers ll as clearlyshown in Fig. fof the drawings. As shown in Fig. of the draw! ings thisflange 13 is integral'with the semaphore arm 12. Arranged Von theinsideot' kthe rollers l1 andbearing slightly upon the ing secured to theinner side ot' the pivoted endof the semaphore arm l2. Thepivoted end ofthis semaphore arm 12 is proifided withan opening 2l arranged inalinement with theat'oresaid light displaying windows i. and as clearly4shown in Fig. Spot'the drawings. The lamp 17 is alsoarranged ina'linement with 'these windows.

Secured to the'interior side ofthe front extending flange 13, thed toprovide suitable shoul4 section 3 of the casing opposite thelightdisplaying windows 4 therein is a' plate 22, the latter' being providedwith a'v central opening 23 .therein and spaced from the casing b vsuitable members 24. This plate 22 is provided atits lower edge with aninsulating plate 25 to which are attached a pair of stationary contacts26 for coperation with the aforesaid contacts 19 in a-manner to behereinafter described. Extending from the contacts 26 are conductors 27.

Secured by suitable brackets 28 to the rear section 2 of the casing isasolenoid 29, the latter being provided with a tubular brass core v.30,to the upper end of which is secured in anyv convenient manner atubularguide member 31. Slidably mounted in this guide member 31 and extendinginto the tubular brass core is a. soft iron plunger 32, to the upper endof which is connected a'flexible element 33, herein shown as being asmall wire cable. This flexible cable 33 is passed .around the annularflange 13 of the semaphore arm 12, it being received in an annulargroove 33 arranged on the outer side 'of the Hange, and is secured atits other ybeing bolted to each end to the latter in any suitablemanner. Surrounding the flange 13 is a helical spring 34, the inner endof which is'secured to the former, while the outer end of the spring 34v is secured to the upper end of the rear section of the casing asshown.

In' use, a pair of the casings 1 are applied to thewind shield of anautomobile 35 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, one casing of theupright standards 36 of the wind shield by suitable bolts 37 passingthrough lugs 38 which extend laterally from the edges of the rearsection 2. The .wires 27 from the lights 17 together With the .Wires 39from the solenoid 29 are collected and passed through a` conduitmember-'40 which is run down the standard 36 in any convenient manner.As shown byvv Fig. 7 of the drawings theI solenoid 29 and the light 17are energized from an electric bat tery 41. which may bethe ordinarystorage battery of the automobile. The lamp circuits are provided witha. switch 42 which is is fixed to the steering wheel 44 of the autolvided with three buttons arranged preferably on the foot-board of thevautomobile in order that they may be kept open during the day time,when there would be no utility for using them. The. conductors 39 fromthe solenoid 29 are connected with the contacts of a gang switch 43which mobile so that when either one of the semaphore arms 12 and lights17 are desired to be operated, the driver -of the automobile can do sowithout taking his hands from the steering wheel. This gang switch isproas shown, the outer buttons being so connected with the solefmmq Q9that when either one of them is arm, a normally erated. The centralbutton is' designed to break the circuit through either or both thesolenoids 29 when pressed. This forms no part of the present inventionand it is not thought necessary to go into details of the same in thepresent application.

In operation, the driver of the automobile upon desiring to turn hismachine to right or left, pushes the corresponding button vof .theswitch 43. This closes the circuit through the solenoid in thecorresponding casing 1 and the plunger 32 is drawn downwardly into thehollow core 30 of the same, and owing to the fact that the upper end ofthe plunger 32 is connected to the flange 13 by the wire cable thesemaphore arm will be swung outwardly, a suitable slot 45l beingprovided in the adjacent edge of the casing to facilitate its movement.As the arm is swung to its extended position the contacts 19 are movedinto engagement with the stationary contacts 26 carried by the plate 22.This closes the circuit through the lights 17. When the turn is made thedriver pushesthe central button of the switch, thus opening the circuitthrough the solenoid and allowing the arm to be moved to its normalposition under the tension of the spring 34. This movement as will bereadily understood also breaks the circuit through the lights.

From the foregoing description` taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings the advantages and operation of the invention willbe readily understood without a more extended explanation. It however,is to be understood thatnumerous changes in the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: n

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a casinghaving alined light displaying openings in its opposite sides, aplurality of rollersrevolubly'mounted within said casing, a semaphorearm normally housed within said casing and having an opening therein inalinement with the first vmentioned openings, a pair of concentricallyarranged annular langesextendmg laterally from one side of said armadjacent the opening therein, said rollers being disposed between saidflanges to pivot said extinguished electric lamp mounted on the innerside of the inner flange and in alinement with said openings, means forlighting said lamp when said arm is actuated, and means for project thevfree end of thev same through l said casing;

light displaying openings m its opposite operating said arm toL swwiff YWithin said casin', a 'paie secuiedwihin said casmg, said pia-te and oneend of said ami being provided with openings' alizied with 'saidlightfdisplaying openings, a noi'- mally extinguished electri lamparranged' Within said casing in alinememb with said openings, a pair ofstgtonary contacts se- 'cured to Said plate, an additional pair ofcontacts scured to said arm and movedilits 10 engagement with saidstatonay contacts fof lighting said lump when said arm moved Qui: of itsnormal position, and means for actuating said arm.

in iestmony Whewm'. i have hereunto Sa my hand in' presence' of twosubsrbng Wi- 15 messes., ,i

l FREDERICK L. -BXBX Witnesss:

B. J. SKINNER, MAE RcmTsoN.

